Think Like A Saver Podcast America Saves

There are many steps on your savings journey. When building your savings foundation, there’s no amount too small to save. It’s all about building your solid savings habits!
In this week’s episode of Think Like a Saver, we cover:
How to start saving One of the easiest and most effective ways to start saving How your goals will become more clear as you continue on your savings journey —
“People often imagine that they have to be saving a certain amount each month for it to matter - and that’s simply not true!”
We are here to support savers as they start their savings journey and create a lifetime of savings habits. The best way to save is to do it automatically. 
To automate your savings, you can do either split deposits or automatic transfers - that way, you can automatically put money into a savings account or opportunity account, and you only have to do this one time!
Remember, there’s no amount too small when it comes to starting your savings. You can always grow the amount you choose to save over time, and having an opportunity fund or savings account is a great first milestone on your savings journey. 
Join us as we wrap up this season of the podcast and discuss how much to save at first, how to build your savings over time, and what to do when you reach savings milestones. 
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RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Military Saves Pledge  Take the America Saves Pledge Be sure to send your questions to save@americasaves.com and we’ll answer them in a future episode!
THIS WEEK’S THINK LIKE A SAVER CHALLENGE:
Look at your bank statements and see if you are being charged for any subscriptions that you may have forgotten about. This is an easy way to slow your spending and find areas that you can save even more!

When you hear, “Get a clear view of your finances”, what do you picture? Your vision for yourself gives you a baseline for where you are so that you can make a plan for where you want to be financially. 
In this week’s episode of Think Like a Saver, we cover:
How to get a clear view of your current financial situation How to be a good steward of the money left over after your necessary expenses  Empowering you to set goals for wherever you are in life —
“You’re taking control of your finances. This is a moment you should be proud of, because you’re informed and empowered. You can make the best decisions for yourself!”
The first step in getting a clear view of your finances is to determine your monthly income. You can do this by looking at your pay stubs and bank account statements. When you understand your income, you’ll then be able to look at what is leaving your bank account. 
It is important to take a look at what you are earning as well as what you are spending and on what. This will help you see what you are spending money on, and will show you where your opportunities to save are. 
Join us in this episode as we talk about what questions to ask yourself when goal planning, and centering around those goals. We cover how to identify the adjustments you can make for yourself, and get real about course-correcting for a better chance of success. 
And remember, success is a journey, just like saving! 
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RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Spending & Savings Plan Tool  Be sure to send your questions to save@americasaves.com and we’ll answer them in a future episode!
THIS WEEK’S THINK LIKE A SAVER CHALLENGE:
Check out our Spending & Savings Plan Tool ! Your goal is to get a clear view of your finances, and truly get a picture of where you are. Then, think about what this information means to you, and what you’ll save for next!

Emotions influence your savings habits. 
In this episode, we cover:
How your experiences influence how you feel about personal finance How to identify your emotions about money, and how to move through those emotions in a healthy way How to break unhealthy cycles around money so that you can save —
“Finances are a deeply emotional experience…. By sitting with these emotions, you’ll be able to see where some of your money blocks are and how you get into certain cycles.”
In this episode, we focus on how different life experiences affect the way that we feel about money, and how those feelings influence our saving habits. 
Many life experiences contribute to how we feel about money, and as a result how we talk about money. For example, our experiences with our families or employers may dictate how we think we can talk about money. 
However, not talking about money can be as hard as talking openly about it.
Join us as we discuss the many facets of emotions that people have when it comes to money and how we can cope with these emotions. When we cope with our emotions, we can consciously move forward in your savings journey.
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RESOURCES MENTIONED:
The secret shame of middle class Americans 7 Steps to jump start your savings journey America Saves pledge Military Saves pledge Financial coaching and counseling Saving for an opportunity fund Be sure to send your questions to save@americasaves.com and we’ll answer them in a future episode!
THIS WEEK’S THINK LIKE A SAVER CHALLENGE:
Take some time to identify what your emotions are around money. Whatever the emotions, make space for them and acknowledge what they’re telling you. Take time to learn from them, and decide which ones to let go as you move forward in your savings journey.

College tuition is incredibly expensive. As a major life milestone, it can be a tough one to save for — and if you take out student loans, a tough one to pay off. 
In this episode, we cover:
How to save for education Programs that can help you pay for school How communication can help make saving for college easier In this episode, we focus on ways to save for you or your child’s education.
Saving for college can seem like a monumental task. However, there are tons of savings and support programs available to alleviate the cost burden, making it a bit easier for your family.
The first step to paying for education is to be empowered with information.
Part of this preparation is learning more about the programs available to families and college-bound students.
Join us as we discuss EOFs (Educational Opportunity Funds), scholarships, completing the FAFSA, and alternative ways to lower the cost of your education like attending community college and joining the military.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
 Town hall on paying for education Free Application for Federal Student Aid Student loan simulator Be sure to send your questions to save@americasaves.com and we’ll answer them in our next episode!
 
THIS WEEK’S THINK LIKE A SAVER CHALLENGE:
If you are a future college student or have young kids, we challenge you to set a savings goal. Then, start working toward it by planning to save automatically!

Buying a home is an exciting milestone in your life! Purchasing a home, especially your first home, can feel tricky. That’s why it’s important to make the right decision for you, and have support in your homebuying process. 
In this week’s episode of Think Like a Saver, we cover:
The lifecycle of buying your first home Tips to make your homebuying journey a successful one How to prepare for your first home purchase —
“Financial confidence is all about knowing the resources available to you, and taking advantage of them.”
The first step in purchasing a home is making the decision. As an informed and empowered saver, you will weigh the pros and cons of owning a home vs. renting, and have done a ton of research.
Then, you’ll prepare to purchase a home. This step is extremely important as it will help determine what kind of mortgage you are able to get. In the preparation phase, you will begin to build your credit score to at least 580 as well as start saving for your down payment.
The third step is to shopping-  for a real estate agent, your new home, your real estate agent, your insurance, and your mortgage! This is the fun part, but it’s also stressful - and incredibly important that you do plenty of research!
In this episode, we talk about how housing counselors can support you during the homebuying process, downpayments and downpayment assistance, and getting the best interest rate.
One resource you may want to use is a housing counselor. A housing counselor meets with individuals to give them specialized and specific expertise that caters to their unique situation. They will help you financially prepare to buy a home, including an action plan to help you make sure you nail every step of the process.
Saving for a down payment may feel like the biggest challenge, especially since most lenders will tell you that you need to put at least 20% of your home’s value down. However, programs like the FHA loan or your state’s home finance agency can help you decrease your down payment.
When shopping for your first home, be sure to shop around for a great mortgage rate as well. If you are having trouble getting a good rate, you may want to spend time improving your credit score so that you don’t spend more than you have to on your mortgage. 
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RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Buying Your First Home Town Hall HUD Housing Counselors  Where to get your credit score for free Take the America Saves Pledge Be sure to send your questions to save@americasaves.com and we’ll answer them in our next episode!
 
THIS WEEK’S THINK LIKE A SAVER CHALLENGE:
Take the America Saves Pledge! Make a savings commitment to yourself and get a bit of extra accountability by entering your email address here. Then, you’ll set up your automatic deposit to your savings account so that you can put your savings goals on auto-pilot!

It can be tough to save during times of inflation. As this episode is being recorded, inflation is at its highest point in over 40 years!
In this episode, we cover:
Saving in spite of inflation  How to manage your budget when prices are rising Savings tips for navigating a period of inflation, no matter where you are in your savings journey —
“Saving is a habit, not a destination.”
We always want our savers to feel prepared and financially confident as they navigate the impact of rising inflation. 
Inflation often means that people have to rethink how they spend and save. When the basic necessities begin to cost more, it can cut into other areas of your budget, sometimes in a significant way. 
There are three groups of people saving right now, and each group may need to rethink their savings goals to adapt to inflation. They are:
People who have no savings - These folks are faced with learning how to buckle down and begin saving in a time that it’s really hard to save.  Have some savings - This group is tightening their budget when it isn’t going as far as it used to,and are faced to rethink if they will continue to save, or reallocate their savings to see if they can keep saving at the rate that they were before inflation. Have strong savings - Although this group also has to spend more due to inflation, they may have money left over to continue saving. These folks may want to consider how and where they are saving.  It can be difficult to begin a habit of saving in a time that is a little more difficult than usual. The best way to start is with a small goal. For example, to save $500. They can take small steps toward this goal every day or week, and can celebrate when they reach that goal. Remember that this goal is the first step in a saving journey, and that if you can accomplish your first saving goal, you can accomplish your next one, too!
Saving might also mean making lifestyle adjustments. For example, instead of a big summer vacation, your family can enjoy local events, which are often free or low-cost, and allow you to get more involved in your community! Check out episode 1 of our podcast for more creative ways to save.
No matter where you are in your savings journey, you can leverage education, resources, and support to take action to increase your financial stability. 
 
THIS WEEK’S THINK LIKE A SAVER CHALLENGE
Take some time this week to explore your city for no or low cost. This might include local activities hosted by your city, or simply taking a walk in your neighborhood or a park. 
Share your adventure with us at save@americasaves.com!
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RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Kia’s mention in the Washington Post  Episode 1: Creative Ways To Save Be sure to send your questions to save@americasaves.com and we’ll answer them in our next episode!